Page 75 of Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail

Iris popped a hand on her hip. “Look, when you’re having the best sex of your life, things get a little hazy up here.” She tapped her brain. “And Jillian issweet. She recycles and gives to charities.”

“Oh, well, if she recycles,” Claire said, winking at Iris over her own wineglass.

“Fuck you,” Iris said, but she was smiling.

“Hey, I won’t judge you for having a little fun,” Claire said. “Plus, best sex of your life...” She trailed off, and she and Iris clinked their glasses, then looked at Astrid expectantly.

“Um, yeah, right?” Astrid said, holding up her glass as well, but she knew she wasn’t fooling her best friends.Best sex of your lifedidn’t really apply to Astrid, considering she was almost positive she’d never had it. Good sex, okay.Best?If what she’d experienced so far wasbest, then she led a sad, sad life.

“Hey, you two,” Iris said.

Astrid shook herself out of her depressing thoughts to see Simon and Jordan headed their way.

“Hey,” Simon said. “Congrats on the cohabitation, Claire.” He leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.

“Thanks,” Claire said.

“Where’s Jillian?” Simon asked.

Iris groaned, then started to explain where Jillian was again, but was cut off by a cell phone ringtone that Astrid had never heard before. Everyone froze as Celine Dion’s “The Power of Love” filled the space between them.

“What the hell is that?” Iris asked, looking around.

“The nineties’ sad attempt at romance?” Simon suggested.

She made a face at him but smiled. Still, the song played on, tinny and a bit muffled.

“It’s your phone, Ris,” Astrid said, leaning closer to her friend and hearing the melody get a little louder.

“Myphone?” Iris frowned but dug her device out of her pocket. “That isn’t my ring—”

She blinked at the screen and slid her finger over the surface, holding the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

Astrid glanced at Claire, both of them exchanging worried looks. Next to Astrid, Jordan shifted, her shoulder brushing against hers. Warmth flooded through Astrid like adrenaline, but she tried to focus on her friend.

“This is Iris. Who the hell is this?” Iris said, hand on her hip, but then her arm dropped and her mouth fell open. She glanced at her friends and held up a finger before turning on her heel and heading back inside.

“What was that?” Claire asked.

“I have no idea,” Astrid said.

“I’m going to go check on her,” Claire said.

“I’ll join you,” Simon said.

Astrid knew she should go as well—she was worried about Iris, but Jordan was here, finally, after three days of pretending to be annoyed with her on film and random sightings across the inn’s yard, and she couldn’t seem to make her feet move.

“Hey,” Astrid said after the others disappeared inside.

Jordan smiled at her, but it was a tired smile. “Hey.”

“How are you?”

“I’m well,” Jordan said, a teasing lilt to her voice. “And you?”

“Great.”

Jordan nodded and sipped her beer, looking around at the other guests while Astrid racked her brain for more to say. She had a lot to say, actually, most of which was some form of “Please hold my hand,and could I maybe kiss you?” but Astrid didn’t think she could justsaythat.